Monday, June 25, 2012

We officially have another year of VBS under our belt. This was our 3rd VBS at our church and my 2nd year of being a director. I really had no idea how much work goes into pulling off a successful week of VBS until directing. I have a whole new level of appreciation for Children's Ministers everywhere.

All our hard work paid off and all of the kids had a great time.

Our theme this year was Operation Overboard!

Dylan said his favorite rotation was "Bible Story." In this class the teachers and youth helpers acted out the story of the day. He said he loved to watch the acting and also loved that they had big plush pillows to set on!

He also loved Science, which I have no good pictures of.

This is London's last year to be in the nursery during VBS.
I was so worried that she would hate being in the nursery, because all of her little friends happen to be a year older and got to go to a class this year. But she had the sweetest "teacher" in the nursery who made it so fun for the little ones. She had a great week and never seemed to mind not being in a "big class."

They even took the 3 year olds outside to get snow cones everyday!

My favorite part of everyday is the assembly. I love watching all the kids sing and dance. London was especially fun to watch this year. She was SO into it.

Our decorating team did a phenomenal job!
The stage was my favorite.

Love this picture of Dylan. His class was called the "Dynamic Dolphins".

I tried to go with Dylan to each of his rotations at least once during the week.
It was hard to do because I was so busy doing behind the scenes stuff.
By the time Friday came, I still hadn't been to Music or Rec and Snack.
Dylan told me I HAD to come had to Rec and Snack so that I could have a snow cone with him.
So that was my top priority that day.
I'm so glad I got the chance to watch.
I was so proud of what a good sport my little man is.
He had the best attitude, win or loose.
He's just the best.

The Sunday after VBS, our church always puts host a performance and picnic for all the kids and their families. I think this is such a fun way to wrap up the week and a great way to visit with families in our community. Both kids sang their songs from the week and then Dylan had a speaking part. He did an excellent job. My kids love the stage.
Wonder where they got that from?

All of the work that goes into putting VBS on is always totally worth it,
but I must admit I'm glad that its over.
Its so nice to be back into our relaxed summer schedule with no real commitments.
That being said, the kids can't wait to do it again next year!

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Time is flying by, which makes me sad.
Summer is by far my favorite time of the year.
There is nothing better than having both my babies at home with me,
and being on our own schedule.
So far, summer has been great.
We've spent a lot of time in water.
Pools, water parks, and splash pads.
We try to be in the water every day.
Though, due to VBS preparation
and now with VBS in full swing,
it is been almost a full
week since they've been in it.
Hopefully we'll return to our "Summer Norm" soon.
The kids made a check list for summer.
Its a big one.Two pages of pure fun.
We've been working on checking things off one by one.

Silly string fight was at the top of the list.
The kids and I waited outside and attacked Daniel when he got home from work.

Another item on the list was game night with friends.
We went bowling with friends a couple of weekends ago.
Not sure this is the kind of game night the kids were talking about,
but bowling is a game and we did play it with friends.
I'm sure we'll have an actual game night too.

And Splash Pads.
It amazes me how amusing the kids find this to be.

Some other items they we check off are:
Staying up until Midnight (and still waking up at 7:30... not fun)
Have Ice Cream for Dinner
Having a sleep over.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Saturday night was one I have dreamed about since the moment we found out we were having a girl.
Tiny ballet slippers, sparkly costume with a the fluffiest tutu ever, a perfectly slicked back bun, all making the sweetest, most precious little ballerina I've ever seen ready for her very first recital.

Tears started stinging my eyes pretty much instantly as we began getting ready for London's big night. As I sat on the floor and helped her slip into her tights and then her costume I breathed in the moment, knowing it was one I'll always remember. I thought about the very first time I put Dylan in his little tiny tball uniform, feeling all the same emotions of pride and excitement. It seems like just yesterday that Dylan was this tiny and now he's a big seven year old. These babies grow up so, so fast. I wish I could have a pause button on life sometimes. I would have used it Saturday night as I sat across from my beautiful baby girl and put make up on her and again when she danced across the stage... just to have an extra moment to soak it all in.

When we got to the recital, I walked London into her dressing room and put a few finishing touches on her.
Then I watched in aw as she pranced around laughing and playing with her friends. She has become such a little girl. The traces of my sweet little toddler are growing more and more faint each every day.

The girls were all laid across the floor coloring when I left her to go find a seat.
Before I left I asked if she was okay, "Are you even a little bit nervous?" I asked. She crinkled her nose and looked at my like why on earth would I be nervous? and said "NOOO!" I gave her a big kiss and hug and told her how excited I was to watch, then I left her there like a big girl and went to find Daniel and Dylan (who were sent to save seats for us).

London's class had the second dance of the recital. I think I was holding my breath all the way through the first dance and until she stepped onto the stage. I just didn't know what to expect. She's only three and a half, almost a full year younger than most of her class. I thought that she might get up there and freeze when she looked out and saw how many people were sitting in the audience. When the music came on so did her smile and it never left her face, a shy little grin, then entire performance. She was a little timid but so sweet and she did almost every move correctly. I looked over at Daniel about 10 seconds into the dance and his eyes were full of tears. That was the tipping point. Tears pored down my face as I watched my beautiful little girl dance and twirl across the stage. My cheeks hurt from smiling so big when her dance was done.
She was perfection.

At intermission I was able to go get her from the dressing room. She was so excited and proud of herself. I held her hand, noticing that its still very small, and walked her to the lobby where her fan club was waiting.

Her face lit up like it was Christmas day when she saw her daddy standing there with flowers. For months now she has said "Daddy will bring me flowers after my dance recital." I think Daniel had been waiting for this moment for a long time to. His face was bursting with pride when she came around the corner. He didn't even wait for us to walk up the steps, instead he practically ran over to her.

And then she looked up and saw GiGi, Rock, Grammy, and Dylan. All with flowers and gifts!

What a lucky little girl! THREE beautiful bouquets and two gifts..
She could barely hold it all!

Of course we had to stop for 1,000 pictures...

Dylan gave her a bear wearing purple tutu.

I thought that we would leave right away, but when I asked London if she was ready she begged to watch the big girls. "Just two dances" is what she said. So we found seats in the back of the theater, making for an easy sneak out exit. Two dances passed and I said "Okay, ready to go get your snowcone (the promised post-recital treat)?" She replied with "Two more!" and this continued until almost the very end of the whole recital. She was mesmerized by the big girls. She leaned over and whispered "I'm going to dance like that when I'm all big". I squeezed her little hand and told her she surely would.

When snuck out when she was finally ready.
We stopped to take a few more quick pictures in the dressing room. I LOVE these...

We finished the nights festivities with a snowcone.
Perfect ending to a perfect night.